May | 2010 | Maryland History by the Object

This year, from May 14 through May 24, JPPM is hosting the Archeological Society of Maryland’s annual field session at our Public Archaeology site, Smith’s St. Leonard. Staff at the MAC Lab are offering, in addition to excavating in the field, many opportunites that will allow ASM members to take advantage of the unique exhibits and facilities at JPPM and the MAC Lab. Lectures, tours, and curation & conservation workshops are being offered all week and field session participants have been happily in attendance in between cleaning, labeling, and re-houseing artifacts in the Lab.

ASM members excavating a feature

Working with curators in the Lab

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum’s very popular Public Archaeology program begins TODAY and will continue through July 3rd. JPPM’s archaeologists welcome volunteers back to the Smith’s St. Leonard site, the buried remains of an 18th century plantation that include a family residence, slave quarter, detached kitchen, barn, and other buildings. Volunteers can help excavate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 10am and 3pm (weather permitting) and can also help clean and examine the artifacts found on the site in the MAC Lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This program is fun, exciting, and free! No experience? No worries. We’ll teach you! You can come for a day, part of a day, or for the whole season. If you would like to participate, please call Ed Chaney at 410.586.8554 or email echaney@mdp.state.md.us to schedule your visit.

Fun for all during last year’s season